Stuff

St Pancras International and King’s Cross are literally next to each other, separated by just a tricky main road, to the north of London but not so far from the centre.

St Pancras is a complicated station, or rather, a whole set of different stations. There’s an old bit at the front and a new bit at the back.

At the back in the new bit to the right (near Starbucks) up some hidden escalators is the section with Southeastern service to Kent, so Canterbury, Dover, Ramsgate and so on, including ferries.

At the back on the left and down a bit is the Thameslink service covering Luton Airport, Gatwick Airport, Cambridge, Peterborough, Brighton, Croydon and more parts of Kent.

Further towards the front are some escalators (usually broken) up to the East Midlands service north to Nottingham, Sheffield and Luton Airport.

In the middle of the old part is a large glassed off section which is Eurostar, the termination point for trains from Lille, Paris, Brussels and other places on mainland Europe. It’s the place with the mobs of people and confusing queues. Basically it’s a mini airline terminal, for trains.

The next page highlights some ways to continue your journey. You will probably need to get to the front of the station, and this can be a long walk through mobs of people.

I think it’s probably fair to say that very many people find Euston a horrible, miserable depressing station. It is not one you want to spend time in.

For some considerable time it has been a building site. It is often closed at weekends. As a passenger it can be confusing.

It can also be very busy.

If you are arriving at Euston, you have perhaps come from Scotland, Glasgow perhaps, or stations down the west side of England, eg Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham.

The whole area is pretty grim and unpleasant.

Underground

To get to the Underground, at the time of writing you have to go out of the front of the station, turn right and then right again to go back in and down. Last time we were there it was closed and people were queuing because it was so busy.

Euston is served by the Victoria line, towards Oxford Circus, and two branches of the Northern line, to Bank, Leicester Square or Charing Cross.

If you cross the busy Euston Road, it is a short walk to Euston Square, which will take you to Hammersmith in the west and Liverpool Street to the east.

Buses

If you come out of the station and walk straight ahead there are some narrow and smelly paths that lead to a bus station. Here you can get so many buses, mainly going east but not all, too many to list.

Some of the buses go from across the main road, and there are multiple bus stops so it is confusing.

If you want to get to Trafalgar Square, for example, you need to get a 91 bus from near the Prezzo restaurant.

Taxis

The station is quite centrally placed and north of the main bits of London. There are many hotels nearby.

Getting to your accommodation may be best, and most sensible, by taxi.

To find the taxi rank, come out of the station, across the forecourt with all the drunks and beggars, and bear right.

We find the taxi rank confusing.

If you are arriving at Marylebone, then you have perhaps come from Birmingham, Oxford or possibly Stratford Upon Avon or Warwick.

It’s a nice station, but small, with only a few platforms and some very congested ticket gates. There are a few places to eat or get coffee.

It’s walking distance to Baker Street.

Underground

Bakerloo line, turn right as you go through the ticket barrier. This will get you to Oxford Circus or Piccadilly Circus.

Taxi

There is a small taxi rank at the front of the station, outside.

Bus

Buses don’t really go near Marylebone Station. The best bet is to come out of the station and go ahead but slightly left, down Great Central Street and find a bus there or on Marylebone Road (or, if you are lucky, your hotel may be right there). It’s a very short distance.

If you find yourself there with spare time, avoid Madame Tussaud’s. It’s expensive and the queues are silly. Last time we were there we saw souvenir shops for The Beatles and Sherlock Holmes. Avoid those too. Sherlock Holmes did not exist, and The Beatles’ Apple shop was at number 94, a long way away.

Go and enjoy the park.